Fastener



G. BROWN FASTENER Filed Feb. 28, 1944 Oct. 23, 1945.

Patented Oct. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENER GeorgeBrown, Chicago,` Ill. e `Application February 28, 1944, Serial No.524,193 (c1. 292-67) Claims.

The present invention relates to fasteners, and more particularly to adevice capable of serving simultaneously as alock and a fastener orindividually in u either capacity.

p An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fastenerwhich is simple in its construction, adapted to be manufactured at lowcost, and readily adapted to be used for fastening and locking Windows,screens, doors, shutters and the ike. The present contribution `ispredicated on the desire to produce a simple, inexpensive, sturdy andeffective locking fastener easily attached and simple to manipulate.

More particularly, this invention comprehends a reversible fasteningdevice capable of being attached on either the right or left side of theobject or `at the top or bottom thereof.

AnotherV object of this invention is to provide a fastener made offlexible material such as spring steel which' renders the device capableof yielding in order that it may become properly engaged in any desiredxed position. Once the fastener is so placed in locked position, itsresiliency necessarily draws the movable object, such as the window,screen or door, closely and rmly to the frame `which engages thefastener.

`Ihis spring action prevents the object attached from moving, shiftingor rattling. If used on a screen, window or the like, it is obvious thatthis feature will serve to keep the object rigidly and snugly in place,thereby avoiding cracks or openings which usually result from looseattachments.

A still further objectof this invention is to provide a simple fasteningdevice which can be readily adapted for use on a large variety ofobjects With a minimum effort and eliminate cumbersome and lesseiiective means now in use. One example is window screens as commonlyused today. They are usually attached to the Window casings by suchmeans as narrow strips nailed to the casing so positioned that thesestrips engage the screen through grooves on the sides of the screen. Thestrips are necessarily of light construction and are easily broken ordisplaced and the Ascreens are weakened by the grooves in the frames.Such frames vare easily broken and renderedl entirely useless. Thepresent invention provides a device which overcomes these objectionablefeatures. While this device is cheaper and more easily attached, it isalso much more y effective as itnnot only makes the screen fit` snuglyIt is also contemplated that this invention he used as a fastener onitems such as luggage, shoes, and the like. While it is preferredthatthis device be made of material such as springsteel and wire, avariety of other materials, such as elastic and plastics, can beemployed depending uponthe specific use to which thefastener is applied.

"Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehendedby the invention as will later appear and as are inherently `possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a Window casing with anassociated screen wherein a locking mechanism made in accordance withthe present invention is embodied and shown in unlocked condition;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 of the drawing showing thefastener in locked condition;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented bylines 3-3 of Figure 2 of the drawing;

Figure 4 is a horizontal fragmentary view in cross section of anassemblysuch` as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing showing the locking mechanismassociated with the bottom member thereof;

Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form for a locking device made inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a front view of another modified form for a locking devicemade in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure '7 is a-front view of still another modified form for a lockingdevice made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawing, anembodiment selected to illus'- trate the present invention and generallyreferred to by reference numeral 8is shown as comprising fastening meansfor securing a screen it in proper position with respect to a windowcasing I2. Y

The present invention is directed more'par- Y ticularly to'a novelfastening means for provid# ing a tight joint between the screen andwindow casing and in the preferred embodiment of the.l

invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fastening means comprises anelongated holding element 2l) which may be cut from a sheet of springsteel having formed at one end a rolled `hinge element 22 and beingprovided adjacent its other end with one or more openings 28 adapted toreceive screws or the like 26 adapted to secure the said holding elementto said screen. Said rolled hinge element 22 is adapted to slidably andhingedly receive latch element I6. The latch element I5 is preferablyformed from spring wire to provide a central portion I'I embraced by thehinged element 22 of the holding elementhZU. The free ends of the springwire are bent to form loops 34 providing an opening in the latch elementhaving its greatest dimension at the center I8 mounted in the casing I2.The free ends of the wire defining the loops 34 converge with respect tothe central portion I1 to provide wedge or cam surfaces engageable withrthe keepe'rl4 actingA to draw the screen I intov tight relation withthe casing I2 when the latch member I6 is moved relative Atoholdingvmember 28 when in embracing relation to the keeper I4. One ofthe free ends of the wire, as at 38, maybe bent angularlywith respect tothe plane of the latch member to provideavnger grip for manipulation ofthe latch member.4 Y

It will be appreciated that the present fastener provides a tightjointbetween the screen and the casing. rSuch tightl connection between thescreen and casing is accomplished by providing the latch with anJAinclined portionwhich effectively dravvs the screen closelyto thecasing when said latch is forced to a closed or locked position. Figure3 of the drawing illustrates member 28 flexed under the action. of. thelatch member to assure atight tjbetween therscreen and casing at. al1times.

This flexing of member 20 facilitates the initial engagement of thelatch to the keeper I4. The resilient action of member 20 issupplemented by the method in which it is attached to screen. Asdisclosed in the drawing, one end of this member is attached to thescreen while the oppositeend, formed with the hinge means to support thelatch, remainslentirely.detached, thus allowing the free end to yieldmore-readily when force is applied to the latch.

, .Inadditionto being an effective fastener, this invention also servesas a locking device as shown in Figure 4. Here the holding element 20 ismounted on the bottom horizontal portion of the screen frame Inland thekeeper I4 is fixed on the sill or base 32 of the casing. By mounting thefastener in this manner, the screen or window is locked from the insideand cannot be opened from the outside by sliding it upwardly. Ifdesired, the fastener may be similarly mounted at the top of the screenIvforengagement with a suitable'keeper mountedV in the top of the casingI2.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 through4, inclusive, as well as in Figure 5 of the drawing is formed withOppositely disposed loops having keeper engaging surfaces to adapt thedevice for right or left hand mountings. Referring to this figure, itwill be notedrthatv latch I6 is inserted in the cylindrical hingeportion 22 of holding element 20. The latch is capable of being slidablymoved upwardly or downwardly from its normal position and is accordinglyadjusted for use on either the right or left side of the screen, windowor other object sought to be secured to the casing or frame. It is alsoobvious that this reversible or interchangeable feature lrenders itpossible to apply the vfastener to the top or bottom of the desiredmembers. vIn Figure 5 the latch is illustrated with an additionalmodification. The loops 34 are formed with notches 31 having shoulders35 adapted to receive keeper I4. Since the engaging surface of latch I6is provided with a cam surface to produce a tight locking effect, thelatch may under certan conditions of strain tend to creep back to theposition of least stress. Forcing the latch into locked position andcausing the keeper I4 to become lodged in the notch or depression v3lprevents the latch from becoming disengaged from its closed position.

As a further modification of a fastening device adapted to receive theheaded keeper I4 which is '5 Vmade in accordance with the presentinvention,

jthe device may be formed as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing to includea securing element and a latch element 36 slidably and hingedly con-Vembodiments hereinbefore described. In this form the latch element isprovided with a single loopr39 yand accordingly the device is notreversible asarethe previouslydescribed fasteners.`

lWhilevarious embodimentsofrthe invention as shown in Figures 1 to -6have been described in connection with their use asfastening means forscreens, doors, windows. and the like, it will*l be readily apparentthat the fasteners'are capable of being used for a large variety ofpurposes. The novel feature of a fastener having a slidable latch with acam surface adapted to effect a firm closure will find many additionaluses. Figure '7, lfer example, illustra/tesa further 4.ri-iodified formcapable of being used on such objects as shoes, luggage and similararticles. As there illustrated, holding element 38 is `,c:onstitutedA asan elastic or similar resilient material which can be readily attachedbysewing, riveting or the like to one of the objects 4I). Latch 42 isattached at 44 to element 38. The adjacently disposed object 46supportskeeper 48Qwhich is adapted to engagelatch 42 whereupon the samefastening or locking is accomplished' as shown in the previousillustrations.

While I have herein Vdescribed and upon the drawing Shown anillustrative embodiment ofthe invention, it is to4 be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto'but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of parts, details and featureswithoutdeparting from the spirit ofthe invention.,`

VI claim; ,X @1

1., In combination, aV plurality of adjacently disposedmembers, afastening device therefor, comprising latchV mechanism including aplurality of flexible elements hingedlyv and slidably connected togetherfor relative movement with 'respect to one another, one of said elments'having means for securing Ysaidv deviceto one of said members, andanother of said elements being formed to'embrace a keeper secured to theother of said members and havingjmeans operable upon sliding vmovementthereof relative to said first named element to engage said keeper `fordrawing'said members into tight relation to one 'anoherl 2.'Afasteningfdevica comprising a plurality of resilient elementsAhingedly and slidably con'- nected together', uone of said elements'having securing means',A` another of said elements Abeingformed'toprovide means for embracing a'keeper, saidlast named meanshaving means angularly disposed with respect tothe axis of saidlhingeconnection lfor wedgedly lcooperating withsaid keeper., ,Y A fasteningdevice, 'comprising'- a plurality 'of elementshingedly and slidablylconnected together, one of said elements having securing means, anotherof said elements being of resilient material and formed with an openingadapted to receive a keeper, said opening being dened in part by a camsurface angularly disposed with respect to the axis of said hingeconnection for Wedgedly cooperating with said keeper.

4. A fastening device for securing together adjacently disposed members,comprising latch mechanism including an element of resilient materialhaving means for securing said device to one of said members, saidelement having hinge means, and said mechanism further including anelement having hinge means cooperating with said first named hinge meansfor movement with respect to said rst named element, said second namedelement being characterized as having means adapted to embrace a keepermounted on the other of said members and including cam means engageablewith said keeper to draw said members into juxtaposition to one anotherupon relative movement of said second named element Y jacently disposedmembers,

5. A fastening device for securing together adcomprising latch mechanism-including a securing element of resilient material having attachingmeans adjacent one end thereof for securing said device to one of saidmembers, said element having its other end rolled to provide a hingeelement disposed in substantial spaced relation to said attaching means,said mechanism further including a latch element formed from wire toprovide a centrally disposed portion slidably and hingeclly receivedbysaid hinge element, said wire further having its free ends angularlydisposed with respect to said central portion to provide a latch elementof looped construction adapted to embrace a keeper mounted on the otherof said members, the said angular disposition of one of said free endsbeing such as to wedgedly engage saidv keeper upon relative slidablemovement with respect to said securing element for drawing said one ofsaid members into tight relation to the other of said members throughthe medium of said resilient securing element.

GEORGE BROWN.

